Birgitta Larsson1,2, Annika Karlström3, Christine Rubertsson1, Ingegerd Hildingsson1,3,4. 1. Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. 2. Research and Development Centre, Sundsvall Hospital, Sundsvall, Sweden. 3. Department of Nursing Sciences, Mid-Sweden University, Sundsvall, Sweden. 4. Women's and Children's Health, Department of Reproductive Health, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate women's experiences of attending existing counseling programs for childbirth-related fear and the effect of this counseling over time. DESIGN: A longitudinal survey. SETTING: Three hospitals in the central north of Sweden. SAMPLE: A selected sample of 936 women. Of these, 70 received counseling due to fear of childbirth (study-group). METHODS: Data were collected with questionnaires 2 months and 1 year after giving birth with background data collected during midpregnancy. Comparisons were made between women with or without counseling. Crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR) were calculated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-reported childbirth fear, experience of counseling, birth experience and preferred mode of birth. RESULTS: Women in the counseling group reported higher childbirth fear 1 year after giving birth (OR 5.0, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 2.6-9.3), they had a more negative birth experience that did not change over time (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.2-3.9) and they preferred cesarean section to a greater extent (OR 12.0, 95% CI 5.1-28.1) in the case of another birth. Also, they were more often delivered by planned cesarean section (OR 4.7, 95% CI 2.4-9.1). However, 80% were satisfied with the given support. CONCLUSION: Although women were satisfied with the treatment, this study shows that counseling had a minor effect on fear of childbirth, birth experiences or cesarean section rates. To help women with their fear of childbirth, more effective methods of treatment are needed.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate women's experiences of attending existing counseling programs for childbirth-related fear and the effect of this counseling over time. DESIGN: A longitudinal survey. SETTING: Three hospitals in the central north of Sweden. SAMPLE: A selected sample of 936 women. Of these, 70 received counseling due to fear of childbirth (study-group). METHODS: Data were collected with questionnaires 2 months and 1 year after giving birth with background data collected during midpregnancy. Comparisons were made between women with or without counseling. Crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR) were calculated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-reported childbirth fear, experience of counseling, birth experience and preferred mode of birth. RESULTS:Women in the counseling group reported higher childbirth fear 1 year after giving birth (OR 5.0, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 2.6-9.3), they had a more negative birth experience that did not change over time (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.2-3.9) and they preferred cesarean section to a greater extent (OR 12.0, 95% CI 5.1-28.1) in the case of another birth. Also, they were more often delivered by planned cesarean section (OR 4.7, 95% CI 2.4-9.1). However, 80% were satisfied with the given support. CONCLUSION: Although women were satisfied with the treatment, this study shows that counseling had a minor effect on fear of childbirth, birth experiences or cesarean section rates. To help women with their fear of childbirth, more effective methods of treatment are needed.
Authors: C Nilsson; E Hessman; H Sjöblom; A Dencker; E Jangsten; M Mollberg; H Patel; C Sparud-Lundin; H Wigert; C Begley Journal: BMC Pregnancy Childbirth Date: 2018-01-12 Impact factor: 3.007
Authors: Elisabet Rondung; Elin Ternström; Ingegerd Hildingsson; Helen M Haines; Örjan Sundin; Johanna Ekdahl; Annika Karlström; Birgitta Larsson; Birgitta Segeblad; Rebecca Baylis; Christine Rubertsson Journal: JMIR Ment Health Date: 2018-08-10
Authors: Helena Wigert; Christina Nilsson; Anna Dencker; Cecily Begley; Elisabeth Jangsten; Carina Sparud-Lundin; Margareta Mollberg; Harshida Patel Journal: Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being Date: 2020-12